Process of making and using metal scavenging alloy



uTEo-s'rA'rE-s PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN G. C. THOFEHRN, DECEASED, LATE OF ROSELLE. NEW JERSEY. BY DONALD H. MOLEAN, ADMINISTRATOR, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO LIGHT METALS OOMPANY, OF ELIZABETH,

JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, CORPORATION OF NEW PROCESS MAKING AND USING METAL SOAVENGING ALLOY.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HERMANN G. O. THo- FEHRN, deceased, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Roselle, in'the county of Union and State of New Jersey, did during his life invent certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Making and Using Metal scavenging Alloy, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of obtaining a scavenging alloy, and tocan alloy, which is useful as a refining agent in metalfounding. Such an alloy added to the molten metal aids in the rejection of the impurities present in the latter, and in the elimination of the occluded gases and vapors, and causes a movement of the metal in the mold-s whereby a more uniform casting is obtained.

The alloy itself consists of aluminium, uranium and magnesium, the relative proportions of the ingredient, and the amount of the alloy used, varying with the chemical and physical characteristics of metal to be cast.

The following specific example is given to illustrate the application of thisinvention to the casting of open hearth basic steel.

A ferro-uranium alloy, containing 25% to 45% of uranium, is melted in a crucible to a bright red temperature considerably above its melting point, and to it is added pure aluminium, the proportion being of about eleven pounds of uranium to one hundred pounds of aluminium. A violent reaction takes place, and after the completion of this reaction, the fluid contents are cast in bars. A residue will be left in the ladle which is rejected. The bars crystallize on cooling, the crystals being large and bright, and consisting of an uranium-aluminium alloy.

Obviously, the uranium may be introduced into the crucible in some other form than that of ferro-uranium. For instance, the oxides, UO or "U 0 may be used.

A molten bath is then prepared by melting aluminium in a crucible or furnace, and to this bath is added magnesium, and the uranium aluminium alloy above described. In doing this I use 44000 parts of aluminium, 3170 parts of magnesium, and parts of uranium aluminium alloy. "The resultant I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 2, 1920.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Serial No. 355,667.

molten alloy is then cast. An analysis shows the following composition,-

Mg 6.70 Cu .25 Fe .35 Si .30 Al (by difference) 93.40 U trace This forms a scavenging alloy.

In using this alloy the steel is made and melted in the usual manner, and to the molten metal, preferably while being teemed in the ladle, the alloy is added in the proportion of from one to two parts of alloy, to 4000 parts of steel. For instance, with 25-30 carbon steel, about of a pound of the alloy will be used per ton of steel. The addition of the alloy to the molten steel. causes a rapid vertical circulating motion of the molten metal in the ladle, and in the mold when poured therein. This motion assists in bringing to the surface the slags, gases and vapors in the molten metal, and thus produces a sounder and more homogeneous casting.

It is believed that the presence of uranium in the alloy permits the segregation in the slag of aluminium oxides which would otherwise remain in the steel. The slag rejected by the metal in cooling in the presence of the alloy is light grey in color. and separates from the metal. The metal itself shows no traces of alumina.

The proportions of uranium and aluminium used in preparing the alloy may be varied from those given above.

Likewise, the proportions of the uranium and magnesium contents used in preparing the scavenging alloy may be changed to meet conditions of the metal to be treated. For instance, the magnesium may be increased to about 15% of the bath, and the uranium contents may be increased by reducing the amount of aluminium in the bath.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is 1.- The herein described process of obtaining a uranium aluminium alloy, consisting in melting together ferro-uranium and aluminium, separating the molten material and allowing the molten material to cool.

2. Tbs process of preparing a met-a vcnging composition, consisting of prc- 'ing an alloy of uranium and aluminium i permitting the same to sniiiii'fy and, iing' solidified aiicy to a moiten bath of minium and n'mgnet-sium.

L The hcrcinlwfore described process ()5 pairing 3 metal scavenging (amn msition, isisting of preparing: an alloy of uranium i aluminium (w iitaining approximately '4; uraniimi and adding it in the proportion of 150 parts of the alloy to a molten bath containing 47,000 parts of aluminium and magnesium.

process, of metal founding, which consists of adding to molten metal prior to curing the same in the mold, a scavenging alloy containing magnesium, aluminium and 11 smaii percents e of uranium.

UNALD H. MGLEAN, 

